Milne’s High celebrate year of achievement and progress and Rector bids a fond farewell
Student achievements took centre stage when a high school celebrated their annual prizegiving.
There was pride aplenty when students, staff and parents/carers came together to mark a year of hard work, success and attainment at Milne’s High School.
It was an event never to forget for Erin Shand when she was presented with the Sir Ashley Mackintosh Medal as Dux of the school.
Guest speaker for the evening was former student Izzy Tiddy, who themselves won the Dux medal in 2014. They now have an MSc Marine and Freshwater Biology and PhD in Behavioural Ecology.
Speaking at the prizegiving, Milne’s Rector Jemma Playfair noted that the ceremony would both be her fourth and last, lauding the “phenomenal school community” and that she was “immensely proud” to have held the role.
Hailing the many achievements of the outgoing academic year, Ms Playfair went on to identify four main strands to driving forward school improvement in the new session: Improving wellbeing; Increasing attainment and achievement; Inspiring leadership; Innovative pedagogy. She also paid tribute to all those who had made it a successful year for Milne’s.
Concluding her address, she said: “At Milne’s, our values of Resilience, Respect, Responsibility are what lead us and will hopefully remain your guide, no matter where your path leads next. These values don’t end at the school gate.
“They are the foundation of every new beginning you’ll face.
“Whether you are receiving an award or not please remember this; the most important beginning is not what happens tonight, or next term, or next year. It’s what you choose to begin each day - by showing up, by trying again, by being kind, and by striving to do better.
“It has been a genuine privilege to be your head teacher. Watching you grow not just academically, but as individuals, seeing your ideas, your talents, your resilience, and your ambition in action every day has been incredibly rewarding. You’ve made me proud time and time again.
Secondary school isn’t always easy. There are challenges, changes, and moments where you’re pushed outside your comfort zone. But you’ve handled it all with maturity, energy, and a willingness to learn and that’s what truly matters.
As you continue your journey here at Milne’s High School, I hope you remember this: Take pride in who you are - your voice, your values, and your journey matter; Keep working hard, not just for grades, but for your own growth; And most importantly, be kind - to others, yes, but also to yourself.”
Prizewinners:
S1/2 Awards for Academic Achievement: S1 - Callum Shanks, Jasper Haley. S2 - Lettice Muckle, Ollie McDonald;
S3 Awards: Art and Design - Laurie MacKenzie; Administration - Adam Reid; Business - Ellie Stewart; Computing - Mayson Donaghie; Dance - Grace Daley; Design and Manufacture - Poppy Lindsay; English - Katie McTurk; English (ASN) - Sophie Thurston; French - Ruby Yaxley; German - Zoe McLennan; Geography - Ruby Yaxley; Hospitality - Isla Hay; Chemistry - Mayson Donnaghie; Biology - Zoe McLennan; Physics - Rebecca Gibbs; Science - Jessica Crompton; History - Barron Stevenson; Modern Studies - Ruby Yaxley; Mathematics - Mayson Donnaghie; Applications of Maths - Josh Cruickshank; Maths (ASN) - Charlie Shand; Music - Oliver Wright; Music Tech - Alex Lambourne; Religious and Moral Ed - James King; PE - Josh Cruickshank; Woodwork - Ben Shand; Engineering Science - Lachlan Henderson; Youth Scotland Awards - Flora Maddams, Alexander Dewfall, Linda Cunninson, Joshua Glew, Dylan Younie; #Milne’s Makes A Difference - Paired Reading - Linda Cunnison, Flora Maddams, Jacob Otieno, Jimmy Reid. S2 IDL Talent Show - Chloe Campbell, Abbie Grant, Laurie Grigor. YPI Riding for the Disabled - Lettice Muckle, Connie Shephard, Macy Shade. French Visit Scotland Project - Katie McTurk, Thea Marshall, Pheobe Teasdale. P6/7 Introduction to Maths Sessions - Mikey Russell, Magnus Milne, Poppy Ramshaw, Lettice Muckle, Ollie McDonald, Daisy Wilkinson.
Special Awards: The Murray Trophy for S1 Girls - Rebekah Glew; The Murray Trophy for S1 Boys - Brodi Wells; The S2 Girls’ Athletics Trophy - Rose Morrison; The S2 Boys’ Athletics Trophy - Aaron Flynn; Fochabers Bi-Centenary Trophy for S3 Girls - Isla Hay; Fochabers Bi-Centenary Trophy for S3 Boys - Rory Fraser; Moir Trophy for Effort and Endeavour - Logan Hay; Merit Awards (Paul Devine Trophy) 2024 - Nathan Williams 1TY1; Highest merit total in S2 - Lola Smith 2TY2; Highest merit total in S3 - Ellie Stewart 3TY2; Milne’s High Soup Challenge supported by Baxters - Ollie McDonald, Harry Warne, Ayman Bensaoud; The Christie Cup for Special Achievement - Mayson Donaghie,Zoe McLennan; The Cantlie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Personal and Social Progression - Alexander Dewfall; Ishbel Lena Macrae Award for Leadership in BGE - Erin McPherson; Lennox Community Council Award - Poppy Ramshaw; Munro Medal for Broad General Education (S1-S3) - Laurie MacKenzie.
Senior Awards: Art - N5 Zennor Muckle, H Alba Scanlon, AH Toluwani Arojojoye; ASN - N1 Kirstie Burke, Logan Chisholm; Admin - N5 Neve Harrold, H Arywn Whyte; Business Management - H Alex Rattray; Computing - N5 Calum Harper, H Cali Rattray; Woodwork - N4 Anthony Lewis, N5 Leo Winchester; Engineering Science - N5 James Moir, H Alexander Chambers; English - N4 Jamie Whitwham, N5 Neve Harrold, H Erin Shand, AH Alba Scanlon; French - N5 Amy Hart, H Robbie McTurk; Geography - N5 James Moir, H Erin Shand, AH Iona MacLeod; History - N4 Blake Robottom, N5 Neve Harrold, H Grainne Lucas; Modern Studies - N4 Dawid Duda, N5 Sarah Russell, H Erin Shand; Maths N4 Apps Lee Davidson, N4 Maths Mason McConnell, N5 Apps Lyllah Bellingham, N5 Maths Amy Hart, H Maths Calum Harper, AH Iona MacLeod; Music - N5 Music Tech Cal Sponer, 5N5 Music Sarah Russell, H Music Ethan Lambourne, AH Music Beth Manson; PE Sport and Fitness - Connor Blackhall, N5 Harvey McWilliam, H Brogan Munro, AH Mia Jackson; Dance N5 Sarah Russel, H Caledonia Anderson; Science - N3 Dylan Younie, N4 Cameron Reid; Physics - N5 Calum Harper, H Alex Rattray; Chemistry - N5 Eilidh Smith, H Calum Harper; Biology - N5 Eilidh Smith; RMPS - N5 Zennor Muckle, H Erin Shand; Philosophy - N5 Alexander Chambers, H Cali Rattray; Practical Cookery N5 Katie Dougall.
Special Awards: Dynamic Youth Awards - Antony Lewis, Arran Palmer, Erin Riddoch, Amy Roberts, Kyle Favell; Moir Trophy for Effort and Endeavour - Logan Hay; The Donald Morrison Junior Footballer of the Year - Jake Newlands; The ‘Cos’ Trophy (Hockey) Player of the Year - Mia Jackson; McPherson Trophy for Senior Boys Champion - Jake Newlands; McPherson Trophy for Senior Girls Champion - Holly Campbell; Merit Awards (Paul Devine Trophy) - Nathan Williams 1TY1, Alan Brown 5IN1, Abbie MacInnes 6IN; Glenfiddich Art Quaich - Teagan Bosworth; Speyside Homes Bicentenary Rosebowl for Excellence in Performing Arts - Beth Manson; The Donald Morrison Creative Writing Prize - Lauren Murray; British Steel Distribution In recognition of Technological Achievement - Mason McConnell; The Gordon Baxter Culinary Award - Katie Dougall; The Ena Baxter Art & Design Award - Neve Harrold; Milne’s High Soup Challenge supported by Baxters - Ollie McDonald, Harry Warne, Ayman Bensaoud; The Christie Cup for Special Achievement - Zennor Muckle, Calum Harper, Mayson Donaghie, Zoe McLennan; The Cantlie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Personal and Social Progression - Alexander Dewfall; The Molly-May ‘Believe’ Award - Brogan Munro; The Ryan Morton Memorial Trophy - Logan Chisholm; Ishbel Lena Macrae Award for Leadership in BGE - Erin McPherson; Special Service to the School Community - Tad Ward; Lennox Community Council Award - Poppy Ramshaw; Develop Young Workforce Award - Suzi Ross; Munro Medal for Broad General Education (S1-S3) - Laurie MacKenzie; Sir James Sivewright Medal for Senior Phase - Niamh Sidney.
Dux of the School Sir Ashley Mackintosh Medal - Erin Shand.
